A Sad Loss of a Dedicated Campaigner

A campaign to force the BBC to release an internal report on its Middle East coverage is to continue despite the death of the man who launched it.

London solicitor Steven Sugar, who died of cancer aged 60 last month, first challenged the corporation to release the Balen report under the Freedom of Information Act six years ago.

Mr Sugar had fought several rounds in court, seeking the publication of the document.

But a Supreme Court hearing, which was due to begin last week, has now been postponed till November.

The HonestReporting team and I are deeply saddened to hear of Mr. Sugar’s death. Despite many setbacks, he had continued to fight the BBC’s stonewalling and legal obstacles to the very end with an unbelievable determination. While I never met him personally, having only exchanged e-mails with him on a number of occasions, I can well imagine that he must have fought his illness with the same determined attitude.

We hope that the Supreme Court hearing will grant Steven Sugar a posthumous victory later in the year and wish his friends and family a long life.